Colorado’s innovative solutions for hauling and accessing cargo
include a standard CornerStep rear bumper, EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate (standard on Z71 and available on LT), two-tier loading in the cargo
bed, 13 standard moveable tie-down locations throughout the bed, an
available, factory-installed spray-in bed liner and a line of available
GearOn accessories.

Inside the new 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel
Colorado’s new 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel features a variable-geometry
turbocharger for optimal power and efficiency across the rpm band and a
balance shaft for greater smoothness.

Power is SAE-certified at 181 horsepower (135 kW) at 3,400 rpm and
369 lb-ft of torque (500 Nm) at 2,000 rpm. A broad torque band makes it
very powerful at low rpm, while the turbocharged performance provides a
confident feeling of immediate and smooth horsepower on demand.

Additional engine features:

Iron cylinder block and aluminum DOHC cylinder head.

Forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods.

Oiling circuit that includes a dedicated feed for the turbocharger
to provide increased pressure at the turbo and faster oil delivery.

The Duramax 2.8L is the cleanest diesel truck engine ever produced by
General Motors, and meets some of the toughest U.S. emissions
standards, thanks in part to a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)
system.

The cooled EGR contributes to lower emissions by diverting some of
the engine-out exhaust gas and mixing it back into the fresh intake air
stream, which is drawn into the cylinder head for combustion. That
lowers combustion temperatures and rates, improving emissions
performance by reducing the formation of NOx.

Controlling noise and vibration with the CPVA
To control vibration and noise inside Colorado, engineers integrated a
device called the Centrifugal Pendulum Vibration Absorber (CPVA) in the
torque converter used with the standard Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed
automatic transmission. It marks the first application of a CPVA in a GM
vehicle and the first time it has been used in the midsize truck
segment.

The CPVA is an absorbing damper with a set of secondary spring
masses, that – when energized – cancels out the engine’s torsional
vibrations so the driver and passengers can’t feel them. In its unique
design, the spring masses vibrate in the opposite direction of the
torsional vibrations of the engine, balancing out undesirable torsional
vibrations.

Smart exhaust brake details
The Colorado’s integrated, driver-selectable exhaust brake system is
based on the system introduced on the 2015 Silverado HD models and uses
the compression power of the 2.8L Duramax engine to improve vehicle
control and reduce brake pad wear.

When the exhaust brake is engaged in cruise mode, exhaust cruise
grade braking will help the cruise control system maintain the desired
vehicle speed when traveling downhill, keeping the driver from having to
apply the brakes and exit cruise control to maintain speed.

When the exhaust brake is engaged in non-cruise mode, the
transmission and the exhaust brake deliver the correct amount of braking
to assist in vehicle control, regardless of vehicle load. It is a smart
system that varies the amount of brakes needed for the vehicle, load
and grade. The engagement of the system is smooth and quiet, while its
performance enhances the driver’s feeling of control.